Wagler, who now works at a building and supply company in Lancaster County, Pa., deserves praise for his honesty. Growing Up Amish is the true story of one mans quest to discover who he is and where he belongs. The memoir is worthwhile as much for its Amish insights as for its exploration of one man's emotional turmoil, regret, and shame. Now, in this heartwarming memoir, Ira paints a vivid portrait of Amish lifefrom his childhood days on the family farm, his Rumspringa rite of passage at age 16, to his ultimate decision to leave the Amish Church for good at age 26. It was a 'paradox that would haunt me for almost ten years: the tug-of-war between two worlds.' His tale of restlessness looks acutely at the clash of family ties with love of freedom. Such unspoken displeasure sparked a cycle of coming and going for the author, who repeatedly crept away from his community only to return, if reluctantly, for its familiarity. Yet Wagler bravely goes on to expose pervasive dissatisfaction among both youth and adult Amish living in what he characterizes as a stifling, formulaic world. The simplicity of everyday life may seem quaint on the surface.

From the vantage point of middle age, he tells his own restless story of fear, longing and hope. Wagler recounts his Amish upbringing, from dating conventions and worship services to local gossip and schoolyard bullies. In GROWING UP AMISH, Ira Wagler goes the memoir route, relating key episodes on his journey away from the Old Amish community.

This memoir offers a nuanced account from a man who straddled both Amish and 'English' (non-Amish) worlds. Filmmakers, academics, and novelists have offered depictions of Amish life.

Growing Up Amish by Ira Wagler